National Plan to End Homelessness 2025-12-11

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Thanking the Minister for her remarks and acknowledging the significant issue of homelessness, Gareth Bacon highlights that although progress was made under the previous Government, more work remains to be done. He emphasises the importance of addressing long-term causes such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and support for young people leaving care.

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The Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee welcomed the statement but highlighted pressures on London councils facing £5 million a day costs due to temporary accommodation. She asked about local housing allowance rates and whether the Minister had discussed this with colleagues in other Departments.

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The Liberal Democrat spokesperson welcomed the statement and additional funding but urged for increasing the social housing target. He inquired about timelines for Vagrancy Act repeal, local housing allowance updates, and exemptions from shared accommodation rates.

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Welcoming the strategy, Sean Woodcock asked for details on how the Government plans to accelerate home delivery, particularly in areas facing infrastructure issues.

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We need a massive house building programme, but there is a real lack of confidence in all this. The public see our own people on the streets without proper housing while illegal migrants are held comfortably, leading to questions about robustness and priorities.

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Commends Oxford city council’s plan to purchase 260 additional homes and asks what the Minister will do to back such initiatives and preserve councils’ ability to impose requirements on developers for social accommodation.

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Highlights pressures on the private rented sector due to Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and asks about funding for Plymouth city council's efforts to eliminate B&B use as part of the child poverty strategy.

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Asks about specific targets for reducing school days missed by children in temporary accommodation and data transparency for tracking outcomes over time.

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Asks about considerations in the strategy for van dwellers, many of whom are vulnerable or simply cannot afford rent, and requests a meeting to discuss this ongoing crisis.

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Draws attention to ending discharging people back to streets from hospitals, suggesting NHS trusts should start accurately counting those in hospital who are homeless and support teams like Pathways need to be rolled out.

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Welcomes ambition to end homelessness, pays tribute to local organisations working hard to end rough sleeping and asks how the strategy and resources will support their efforts.

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Welcomes strategy as a good first step, focusing on prevention and the duty to collaborate with new money for supported housing; asks about monitoring success of this element.

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The MP asks about the legal basis for postponing local elections and expresses concern over the impact of housing associations on tenant security. He also mentions Shelter’s estimate that nearly 400,000 people are homeless.

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The MP emphasises the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017's success in preventing homelessness. He also calls for immediate implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act and mentions Housing First, a successful model that puts a roof over people’s heads before building support networks.

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The MP shares his personal experience with homelessness as a child and highlights the importance of ending the unlawful practice of placing children in B&Bs. He asks for a timeline to achieve this.

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The MP discusses his background working for the YMCA and highlights the negative consequences of Conservative cuts on rough sleeping. He supports organisations led by people with lived experience to shape local services.

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The MP welcomes the additional funds for expanding council homes and invites the Minister to visit Gravesham to see its ambitious plans.

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The MP expresses his support for the strategy, particularly ending the use of B&Bs for families. He mentions a complex case in Morley where someone is sleeping in shop doors.

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The MP discusses Scotland's housing emergency worsened by budget cuts, highlighting Edinburgh’s use of tourist tax to build houses for homeless people. He also asks about connecting veterans' homelessness support with the MOD.